Senate Passes Children’s Health Insurance Bill

August 6, 2007

Thanks to your support, the Senate passed legislation reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on August 2 by a vote of 68-31. The House passed a similar bill on August 1. This vote sends the SCHIP bill to a House-Senate Conference Committee that is expected to begin its work in September.

NAMI supports both the House and Senate versions of the SCHIP bill. Both contain equitable coverage requirements for SCHIP plans with respect to mental illness treatment. In addition, the House bill contains a broad range of improvements to mental health benefits under the Medicare program and an amendment to block potentially damaging regulations limiting community-based mental health services under Medicaid.

Thank you for your support! Your efforts really do make a difference in Congress!

Learn more:

Click here to learn more about the Senators and Representatives who have been instrumental in promoting this legislation.Click here to view an analysis of the House and Senate SCHIP bills (HR 3162 and S 1893).Click here to see how your Senators voted on passage of S 1893 (which was combined with a separate small business tax measure, HR 976)